Santana was sat in the kitchen lightly chuckling to herself as she listened to Quinn try and get Holly up for school for some reason she knew that making the breakfast was the better option this morning. Quinn walks into the kitchen huffing and puffing mumbling about attitude. "Babe are you ok?" Santana asks.
Quinn turns and glares "Does it look like it, seriously San her attitude is driving me mad. You want to know what she has just said to me?"
Santana is not really sure if she wants to know "Sure babe what did she say?"
"After 3 times of asking her to get up, she said what if I don't, what you going to do, ground me oh that's right you already did and have ruined my school break."
Santana shakes her head "The little madam, did she get up?"
"Yea after I told her I would ground her for an extra week meaning she would miss all her break. I also told her if she wanted to sit comfortably at school today she best not come down for breakfast with an attitude." just as Quinn finished her sentence Holly walks into the kitchen with her head down not looking at either of her foster parents.
Santana leans against the counter eyeing the girl knowing she is panicking about what she is going to say "I hear it has been an interesting morning Holly."
Holly looks up then back down at her place at the table "Yes but I apologised."
"I know but Holly if you honestly think being grounded is the worse we can do, you best think again, and if we are going to keep fighting with you to get you up in the morning then I might just believe nine o clock is too late for you to be going to bed" Santana says with a slight eyebrow raise. Holly looks up with tears in her eyes taking Santana back ever since she moved in she hasn't seen her cry. The only time she came close was when Quinn smacked her backside a few weeks ago "Holly babe what's wrong?" she says walking over and kneeling in front of her.
"Nothing I'm sorry I'm just being silly, I really am sorry about this morning" she says trying to get off the chair and move past Santana who holds her arm and pulls her close "Holly please come on, talk to us" she says softly.
Holly sighs "I have just been having trouble sleeping like I keep having these nightmares and by the time I fall asleep I have to get up."
Santana sits on the chair Holly was sat in and pulls her onto her lap "Baby why didn't you come to me or Quinn? We understand you have been through a lot these last few weeks and know it's not going to be easy but we are here for you."
"I know you are but you have to understand I have never had anyone to talk to before and find it hard. I don't want you to think I'm being a baby" she says quietly tears rolling down her cheeks.
Quinn walks over and leans in front of them "Hey we would never think you were being a baby, Jesus Holly you have had more shit in your thirteen years than I have had in my whole life, you have to be one of the strongest kids I know, I promise sweetheart Santana and I would never, I mean ever think any less of you for being upset or having bad dreams or even acting out we are extremely proud of you baby."
Holly looks up and half smiles "You know if I used half the language you just did I'm sure you would have my ass." Santana taps her thigh and shakes her head.
"See, sorry but thank you I'm sorry I didn't come and talk to you."
Santana kisses the top of her head "Listen I know you are older than Maya and maybe felt like you couldn't but if she has a bad dream she comes into bed with me and Quinn. I want you to know that you can do the same ok?" she waits for Holly to answer when she doesn't say anything she tries again "Holly ok? Promise us if you have a bad dream or having a bad time you will come to us no matter what time of the day."
"Ok I will thank you. It's just I have never had anyone who cared this much before if I got out of bed before I was told at home I would get hit and I know you guys are not like that but it's a hard habit to break."
Quinn can feel tears appearing in her eyes she doesn't want Holly to see she is getting upset but also knows she need to reassure her "Listen sweetie we don't know all of what went on with your parents, only the bits you tell us and what your social worker tells us. We get that it is going to be hard to change something like that, what you went through no child should ever have to but we need you to know and understand we would never do that. Holly not ever San and I will only ever smack your bottom if we really need to, nowhere else we promise you, we also get that it may take you a while to believe that we know you have spoken to Phoebe and you have seen Maya they have never been swatted or spanked anywhere but their bottoms and so far we have only ever used our hands. Now I say so far because Phoebe has probably told you that Brittany has spanked with a hairbrush once before but that is the worse it would ever be, neither of us would use belts or straps or whatever other instruments could be used do you understand babe?"
Holly nods taking in everything Quinn is telling her "I know and I do believe you, I really do and I promise I'm trying. It just sometimes I feel like if I push you hard enough you will either give in and send me back or hit me like I used to get, Phoebe says I'm crazy and you won't do either, I guess I just find it hard to believe there are parents out there like you that would want to willingly take someone in like me and not get anything from it."
"But baby we do get something, we get a great daughter" Santana says.
"You already have a great daughter why do you want the stress of another one plus I'm older and..."
Santana stops her "Hey your age has nothing to do with it, you could have been 3 or 13 and we still would have done the same and yea Maya is great and so are you. We are so lucky to have you in our lives and baby we wouldn't change it for the world not now not ever, we will be here for you till we are old and grey and you are having to change our diapers" she says tickling her sides.
"No way I'll just put you both in a home" she says giggling slightly. "Seriously though thank you for everything I love you guys sometimes I lay in bed wishing you were my real parents because I would know then that everything would be ok."
Quinn stands up and kisses the top of her head "No matter what happens babe we will always be here for you and everything will work out just fine, to us you are our daughter and nothing changes that, ok?"
Holly nods "Ok thanks anyway, I best get ready for school and you have to pick Maya u and take her don't you?"
Santana looks at her watch and notices how late they are "You know what, forget school for today the three of us are going to have a lazy day on the sofa ok. I will ring the school and arrange the meeting with your teacher for tomorrow and as for Maya, Judy is taking her to school today so don't worry about that."
Holly smiles "Are you serious? But I'm grounded."
Quinn laughs "And you won't be leaving the house so it's fine, look why don't you head back to bed, try get some sleep and we will wake you before lunch ok."
Holly nods "Ok thank you guys."
"You're welcome we love you baby" Santana says kissing her head.
"I love you too" she says giving them both a kiss on the cheek and heading upstairs.
-/-/-
After spending a lovely afternoon chilling on the sofa Santana took Holly to go and pick up Maya from school who was excited to see her 'big sister' as she was telling everyone in the playground. Sitting in the car on the way home, Santana is gripping the steering wheel tight as Holly and Maya keep on her about having a takeout for dinner. "Girls enough we are not having takeout we have plenty of food in the house now stop asking."
"But Mama we really want a pizza please just say yes, Mommy likes them too, she will love you lots and lots" Maya says.
Santana tries to hide her smirk "Mommy already does, now enough."
"San come on how often do we get takeout please just this once" Holly begs.
"NO!" Santana shouts.
Holly huffs "God ok no need to shout."
Santana stops at the lights and turns round "I would watch it if I were you little lady, you are already grounded don't make it worse."
"What! You will make it worse just because I'm asking for pizza, little over reaction don't you think?" Holly says with attitude.
Santana continues to drive, ignoring her comment, they reach the house Santana gets out she walks round to Maya's side letting her out and run off into the house. She walks round to Holly's side thankful she still hasn't had time to take off the child locks, she opens the door and as Holly steps out she catches Holly's arm "For your little attitude in the car when we go in, you go to your room till dinner then after you will have a shower get your pj's on then will be in bed do I make myself clear?"
Holly looks her the eyes knowing it's not a good idea to argue so just nods, as Santana lets go she gives her foster daughter a sharp smack to her bottom "Ow Santana" she whines.
"Be thankful that's all you're getting, now go straight to your room" she says firmly.
As Santana heads into the house she walks into the kitchen and hears Maya being rude to her Mommy she sighs wondering why both her daughters are deciding today is a good day to play them up, she walks in, bends down and smack her youngest bottom "Ouch Mama" Maya cries, putting her hands back covering her bottom in hopes there isn't any more.
"Who do you think you are being rude to little lady, get your backside up to your room and stay there till I come get you" she says sternly watching as her daughter runs out the room.
Quinn looks over to her stressed wife "What is going on, Holly came in and ran straight to her room then Maya babe did something happen in the car?"
Santana shakes her head "They were on at me about getting a takeaway and I said no, Holly kept giving me attitude and Maya wouldn't stop asking I just had enough."
Quinn smiles, walks over and hugs her wife "Oh babe there just testing you, don't let it get to you, we have a teenager and a five year old they are going to test you sweetie."
"I know I just get frustrated, I'll go talk to them" she says kissing her wife and heading upstairs.
By dinner time the girls were sat happily, eating and talking, Santana and Quinn sat back listening to them chatter happily, they are both hoping that next week's visit with Holly's social worker goes well.